Chapter 212
Rebekah huddled in a corner of the basement, her eyes fixed on the wasps buzzing nearby, terrified they would swarm her at any moment. The constant droning was like a curse, echoing endlessly in her mind and stretching her nerves to their
breaking point.
Suddenly, the basement light went out, and darkness washed over her like a tidal
wave.
Her fragile composure shattered. “No… please, no p>
Candice’s voice drifted from outside the door. “Did you like the surprise I prepared for you, sister? Don’t worry, this is just the beginning p>
Rebekah curled into a tighter ball, her body trembling uncontrollably. She couldn’t even hear Candice’s taunts anymore. Her mind had retreated to that small attic years ago, a place of suffocating darkness filled with the hissing of snakes. Now, the buzzing of wasps had joined the terrifying chorus.
Fearing an attack from the shadows, she kept her eyes wide open, silent tears streaming down her face. Her mind was on the verge of collapse, but she fought against the urge to pass out.
Outside, Candice listened for a long time but heard nothing. She wanted to open the door and check, but the thought of the wasps stopped her. She’d need proper protection before going in.
She carried the tray of food back to the living room just as Benjamin was preparing to leave for the office. He frowned when he saw the untouched meal. “Benjamin, she won’t eat,” Candice said, lowering her head sadly, a perfectly timed flicker of worry in her eyes.
Benjamin sneered. “Fine! Let her starve!” He then looked at Candice and added, “Don’t bother with her anymore. If she wants to waste away, let her p>
Candice looked at him with gentle disapproval, her tone almost a pout. “You shouldn’t say things like that when you’re angry p>
Benjamin’s expression softened. Candice was so kind. He smiled, said his goodbyes, and walked toward the door.
The moment he opened it, he found Jensen standing on the other side.
“What are you—” Before he could finish, a powerful kick sent him flying. Benjamin crashed to the floor, a muffled groan escaping his lips as pain shot through his back.
Before he could react, Jensen
grabbed him by the collar and rained punches on his face. After several brutal hits, Benjamin finally came to his senses But before he could fight back, Jensen lifted him and threw him again. His large, muscular frame was like a rag doll in Jensen’s hands, easily tossed aside.
He hit the ground hard, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “Benjamin!” Candice dropped the tray and rushed to help him up.
Jensen’s gaze fell on the scattered food, then to where Candice had been standing, and finally settled on the basement door off the fixing.: room. His face grim, he started walking toward it.
Benjamin saw him and scrambled to his feet to intercept him, but a group of bodyguards suddenly flooded in from outside, blocking his path. Benjamin recognized the man in the lead the executive assistantfrom the Hawthorne Group.
He froze, a terrible premonition washing over him.
Jensen kicked the basement door open. A few wasps flew out, heading straight for him. He batted them away with his arm, their stingers failing to penetrate the fabric of his suit.
“No… don’t come near me Rebekah’s faint, terrified voice drifted from inside.
Jensen’s heart sank. He took off his suit jacket, wrapped it around his head for protection, and went in. “Rebekah p>
The light from the open doorway offered some illumination in the otherwise dark room. When Jensen saw her curled up in the corner, his heart clenched painfully.